Don Hale Blog

*Will Evans (*above) made a successful debut at the Rhos parkrun Another attendance record smashed at Rhos despite Arctic conditions...plus other parkrun results. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael Finnie and others. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   The Llandrillo y Rhos parkrun set another amazing attendance record of 629 last Saturday despite a strong and bitter-cold Arctic headwind and a rather sandy 5k course. This popular new event attracted hundreds of visitors at the end of the festive holidays,  and it was also boosted by numerous runners travelling along the coast due to several early parkrun postponements, due to freezing conditions elsewhere with plenty of ice and snow, and Rhos also  recorded  an exceptional minus 8 degree wind chill via Strava! Visitor  Jacob Hiom  (Cuth’s RC) made a successful course debut at Rhos, finishing in only 17 minutes and 21 seconds, yet incredibly, he shared the exact same finishing time as  Simon Cole  (...

*Father and son, Stuart and Joe Culverhouse (*above) ran well at Conwy. Cold and windy but well attended New Year’s Day parkruns. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   It was another very cold and very windy morning at most of the New Year’s Day parkruns, yet the conditions still failed to deter hundreds of hardy and determined athletes from travelling a long way just to start their 2026 events in style. Known parkrun events took place at  Conwy, Llangollen, and Newborough Forest , to name but a few, and all reported good attendances, and were well supported by generous teams of enthusiastic volunteers. At Conwy,  the organisers welcomed 242 entrants including numerous first timers, and the first finisher was Wrexham AAC star  James Yarwood  in 17 minutes and 45 seconds.  Iain Burgess  ran a good second place in 18.10, and visitor  Thomas Watkiss  took the third spot in 18.44. Anna Drinkwater  (Eryri Harriers) (*pictured ri...

*Ben and Sarah Hudson are pictured above (*and below) on the start/finish line after their Midnight 10k dash at Shrewsbury on New Year's Eve. Midnight 10k in Shrewsbury and an early 5k parkrun at Llangollen for Ben and Sarah. Report by Don Hale.  donhaleblog.bogspot.com/2025   North Wales Road Running couple Ben and Sarah Hudson hit 2026 running, quite literally, as they competed in the unique Midnight 10k in Shrewsbury on New Year’s Eve. Ben celebrated a great result finishing in 7th place overall with a good time of 51 minutes and one second, and Sarah shared their success as the second female finisher with another excellent time of 45.21. However, not content with resting on their laurels, and despite a late-night race and a long drive home, the pair made their course debuts, early the following morning – New Year’s Day – at the Llangollen parkrun on the Old Railway Track.  Ben finished in 15th place overall, and he won his VM45 age cat in a very fast time of 22.24, wh...

Crowdfunding Plan for an urgent life-saving thermal drone for Animal Rescue operations. This is Emma Weir's story:  Investing in Life-Saving Thermal Drone Technology - £3,000 Campaign... donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 About Wilfred and Friends Animal Rescue operations. Wilfred and Friends Animal Rescue stands as a pillar of compassion and expertise within our community's animal welfare landscape. Founded on the principle that every creature deserves a chance at life and freedom, our organization has built a reputation for excellence in wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release programs.  Our comprehensive approach to animal welfare encompasses the rescue and medical treatment of injured, orphaned, and distressed wild animals, followed by specialized rehabilitation designed to prepare them for successful reintegration into their natural habitats. As a not-for-profit organization currently navigating the formal charity registration process, we operate with complete transparenc...

FESTIVE APPEAL FROM WILFRED AND FRIENDS Animal Rescue Service - Animal Ambulance and Pet Transport. 24/7 help. A Little Festive Wish… donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 This year, to be a bit more environmentally friendly, Wilfred and Friends are asking people to consider skipping Christmas cards altogether — after all, most cards end up in the bin… but a donation goes a very long way. Our Christmas Appeal is still very much active, and we’re urgently collecting: B lankets Coats Harnesses Food If you’d prefer to donate money instead of buying cards, every penny will go directly towards our Thermal Drone Fund — a vital resource that helps us search for and save missing or vulnerable animals. Demand has never been higher; we’ve had 14 requests in the last three weeks alone. By choosing a donation over a card, you’re helping the environment and helping animals in need this Christmas. Thank you for supporting rescue animals — your kindness truly makes a difference. https://www.facebook.com/...

   *Prolific Northern Ireland author Eileen McCourt (*above) has written and published well over 50 books with bookpublishing4u.co.uk, and now sells her books online via Amazon to a host of regular readers worldwide. About two years ago, Eileen also featured her work on a special Amazon promotion in America. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Calling All Authors! Everyone has a book in them! Isn't it time yours was read?  Turn your story into a best seller! As Self-Publishing Specialists  We Can Turn Your Book Into A Reality!                                         What is self-publishing?  Call now on 01745 832211. https://www.facebook.com/bookpublishing4u Quite simply,  it's a way of quickly and cheaply getting a book published without the need for a traditional publisher (publishing house). More and more authors...